Chapter 23 (1/1)

Charmaine gradually propped herself up in bed.  Even that small movement exhausted her leaving her gasping for air.  She heard a noise outside her door and looked towards it.  The door opened to reveal Raymond balancing a tray in one hand and holding a stack of magazines in the other.  "What's that?" she asked faintly, her eyes falling on the tray he set on her bedside table.After placing the magazines down on her bed, Raymond retrieved the bowl from the tray and held it in front of her.  "Congee."Charmaine bent and took a sniff of the steaming congee and wrinkled her nose.  "This doesn't have any smell to it," she said plaintively."That's because there's nothing in it except for rice.  Not even a grain of salt," Raymond informed her with a knowing grin.  Having spent so much time with her it was impossible not to know what she was thinking.  Charmaine liked tasty, well flavored food.  Food that are plain and without texture did not appeal to her, as indicated by the frown on her face.  "Doctor's order," he injected lastly when she looked about to argue."How about a pinch of salt?" Charmaine asked hopefully, her eyes wide and pleading.Raymond almost agreed to it seeing the way she was looking at him.  But remembering the Doctor's orders and knowing that it was for her own good, Raymond shook his head, his face set in a mask of hard determination, "No and that's final."  The sad look that now fell on her face prompted Raymond to soften and say, "It's just for two days.  Once you're completely recovered, I'll take you out all over the City and buy you whatever you want to eat."Charmaine knew nothing she did or said will change Raymond's mind.  "I guess if I must."  Lifting her hands to retrieve the bowl she was surprised when he suddenly held it back from her.  She lifted her brows in inquire."You're still very weak," he stated and picked up the spoon and scooped a small serving onto it before holding it out her.  "Here."Charmaine eyed the spoon and then riveted her gaze to Raymond's face.  "What are you doing?"Chuckling at how dense she suddenly become, Raymond said, "What does it look like I'm doing!  "I'm going to feed you.""I'm not a baby.  I can feed myself."  Charmaine lifted her hands to take the bowl again and found it held back even further away."Like I said, you're still very weak and I've already said I'm going to feed you."Suspicious of his sudden niceness and care, Charmaine gave him a skeptical look that told him she knew he had a motive for everything he did.  This was no exception.  "Why?  Why are you being so nice to me?  It's not like you at all."Letting out a heavy sigh, Raymond locked his gaze on her and asked quietly, "Why are you asking so many questions?  All I'm doing is a simple task of feeding you because you're sick and here I am getting interrogated like some criminal.  I thought we were now friends and friends look after each other."Charmaine saw the hint of annoyance on Raymond's face and wished she had just taken up on his offer without voicing so much objections to it.  If he wanted to feed her then let him.  Besides, it'll be nice of him to serve her for a change.  Feeling like an ungrateful child, she smiled apologetically and said, "I'm sorry."Raymond quickly accepted her apology and dipped the spoon back into the bowl.  Scooping a hefty amount he brought it in to her mouth, "Open up and say ahhhh."Charmaine looked at him incredulously, "Just because I’m letting you feed me like a baby doesn't mean I have to act like one."Raymond looked at her thoughtfully and teased, "Really?  At times I serious think that you do act like a baby.  Given all the childish pranks and tantrums you have shown me."Charmaine didn't have a chance to snap a response for Raymond had shoved the spoon into her mouth and ordered, "Eat."  He fed her spoonful after spoonful and only slowed down when half of the congee was gone.Not realizing how hungry she actually was, Charmaine managed to eat the entire bowl.  When the bowl was empty, she looked longingly at it and asked, "Any more?"Setting the bowl back onto the tray, Raymond shook his head.  "I'll bring you some more later.  You don't want to overwork your stomach too soon after having it pumped out.""But I'm still hungry," Charmaine protested sulkily.Raymond picked up the tray and headed for the door.  At the door he stopped to turn and look at her, "If you're good I might decide to bring you some more earlier than I originally planned.  That is, if you're good.  Now remember, don't leave the bed until I say you can."  He gave her a wink and stepped out of her room, softly closing the door behind him.-------------------------------------------Charmaine closed the last of the magazine that Raymond had brought in to her and dropped it on the pile of those that she had read.  She glanced at the time.  It's been over two hours since Raymond left her room and not once had he come in to check on her.  Her stomach was rumbling with hunger and not to mention her thirst.  The glass of water he brought in with her congee had long been gone.  Didn't he care that she was wilting away in the room.  Of course he didn't!  She already knew what type of person Raymond Lam was.  He was selfish, arrogant, and… and… her thoughts were interrupted when her room door suddenly opened.Raymond poked his head in and asked, "How are you feeling?"  He saw the glower on her face and immediately asked, "What?  Why are you looking at me like that?""You won't let me leave this room and yet not once have you come in to check on me," Charmaine mumbled.Raymond stepped into the room, a simmering smile on his face.  "If I've known you wanted me to check in on you I would have done so and quite often too."  As like earlier, he set the tray down on her bedside table.  "I brought you some more congee."Charmaine looked at the congee and noted that it looked a bit different from the one she ate a few hours ago.  Even the smell of it was different.  In fact, it smelled delicious and she heard her stomach growl in anticipation.The hunger on her face made Raymond laugh out loud.  "I added some chicken breast and a sweet potato to give it some flavor.  I hope this is more suitable to your liking."Surprised, Charmaine stared at him, "You mean you made it yourself?""Yes.  Is it that hard to believe?""You said you didn't know how to cook," Charmaine reminded in a non-too gentle tone.Raymond shook his head and with a lazy grin responded, "If I recall correctly, I never said that.  It was you who automatically assumed I didn't.""Then why didn't you help with the cooking?" Charmaine asked with a grudge.  "It would have made things easier for me."Raymond laughed and held up the bowl of congee.  Holding out a spoonful towards her he said, "Why should I?  I can't spoil all the fun you were having making all those god awful meals to torture me."He had a point there, Charmaine thought with a mischievous smile.  Giggling she countered, "Who told you to be such a mean and nasty person!"Raymond went very still, his eyes locked on hers.  With the spoon in mid air he asked quietly, "Do you still think that way about me?"Meeting his gaze, Charmaine slowly shook her head and answered meekly, "I don't."Never could Raymond imagine how those two simple words could hold such meaning to him.  Unable to contain his feelings any longer, he lowered the spoon back into the bowl and saw the look of surprise on Charmaine's face.  Still holding her gaze, he leaned forward and kissed her.-----------------------------------------------Myolie walked into the restaurant and waved at Kevin before hurrying over to his table.  "Sorry I'm late," she said breathlessly."I just got here myself," Kevin said and summoned the waiter over.  "Can you get us two glasses of water."  The waiter nodded his head and left.  "So, what is this big surprise you have to tell me."Myolie dug in her bag and pulled out an envelope.  Waving it in front of him, she gushed with excitement, "I brought us flights to Shanghai for this coming weekend!  Surprise!"Stunned by her news, Kevin said, "I wasn't planning on going there.""Well, now you are."  She saw him hesitate and asked in puzzlement, "Don't you miss Charmaine and want to see her?""Yes, I do miss her but…"Frowning at his lack of enthusiasm, Myolie pressed, "But what?  You miss her and I've already bought the tickets.  So what is there to think about?"Kevin actually couldn't think of a reason not to go.  His workload in the office was teetering off and most important, he missed Charmaine a lot more than he was willing to admit.  Taking the envelope from Myolie he smiled cunningly at her and asked, "What time is the flight?"Myolie clasped her hands together and squealed in delight.